GOP leaders talked about putting Illinois "in play" in 2012 despite it being Obama's home state. They plan to launch a straw poll Nov. 5 that would allow Illinoisans to vote online or on paper for $5 a ballot in hopes of putting more focus on the state before early tests in Iowa, New Hampshire and other states.

"As I travel throughout the state, every day more and more people feel disenfranchised from the president's agenda," said state Sen. Bill Brady, the Bloomington Republican who lost narrowly to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn last year.

Republicans largely ignored the impact of new legislative and Congressional districts, drawn by ruling Democrats at the statehouse, that are likely to help Democrats keep control of Springfield and win back seats in the U.S. House. Republicans are challenging the maps in court.

They talked about building on the five seats they picked up in Congress last year, statewide victories by Treasurer Dan Rutherford and Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, and gains in the Illinois House and Senate, where they are minorities in both chambers. Demetra DeMonte, a Pekin resident who serves as secretary of the Republican National Committee, said the Republican tide that swept America last year was the "beginning of a Renaissance."

Added U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria, "I don't know about you, but I smell blood in the water."

Rally speakers drew parallels between Illinois' dismal finances and the Washington battles over the budget and deficit. Calls for change were buttressed by new unemployment figures released Thursday that show joblessness in Illinois rose to 9.5 percent - the third consecutive month unemployment has increased in the state.

Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said the electorate is now "shocked into awareness by the horrible mismanagement of Democrats."

"I think they see now at the federal level the problems the debt has created," Radogno said. "They're aware now at the state level--after having had suffered through a 67 percent (income) tax increase and then still being told that's not enough money. They're kind of scratching their heads saying, 'Maybe we need a different approach.'"

Republican state lawmakers oppose Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn's proposals to borrow billions of dollars to help pay down a backlog of unpaid bills.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, focused on how Illinois needs to wrestle its more than $80 billion pension debt under control. Cross has sought to pull together a less expensive pension plan for state workers.